28 replies to this topic

[ChrisS1]

First of all a disclaimer. I am far removed from a GJOB. If I clean a car I get bored by the time I get to the wheels. I also HATE spending money!

So, I've not long had my VX and to say the paint is poor would be an understantement (bubbles/chips etc). I did clean and polish the car when I first got it but the paint seemed to have a hazy kind of finish to it - despite it feeling smooth to the touch.

Due to the atrocious bubbling there is absolutely no point paying a professional to 'detail' the car as they would just laugh! It will have a respray at some point but not in the near future (I work on building sites!) so I just wanted to get the paint looking more shiny so the car looked better...from a distance!

I searched through a few detailing sections on various forums and asked advice from detailing hobbyists about how to get the paint looking better. All the advice seemed to involve spending a decent amount of money. So, in typical tight bastard style, I picked the products that seemed like they would be most effective when combined with stuff I had lying about in the garage.

So, to start here's the starting point.
I do in the region of 100 miles a day so car gets plenty of crud from the road.






I usually used whatever sponge I can find but as this was supposed to be a 'detail' I bought a cheap 'wash mitt' to use instead. It was £1 from a scabby discount shop and I've got to say it was much better for cleaning the car than using a sponge! I even found a second bucket so I could use the two bucket wash technique.

[ChrisS1]

Then I cleaned the wheels up....





Then had a quick exhaust polish

[ChrisS1]

Now was the first stage of the detailing which you always read about....the claybar.
I went to Halfrauds and bought the cheapest one that they had which included a lubricating spray. It was a turtle wax one for about £6.00
This is the first time ever using a claybar and it did remove the little spots of tar and stuff with relative ease. Only tricky thing I found was that it was so cold I needed a bucket of warm water to keep the clay soft enough.
These are pictures after claying and then washing the car.




Next step was to dry it and use the Auto Glym Paint Renovator. This says that it takes blemishes out of the laquer/paint so I was hoping that this would get rid of the cloudyness.
Photo of top of drivers door before.


Photo after...

[ChrisS1]

Was hard to tell if there was any difference as I didnt have a reference point to compare it to, but it did appear to look like the shine was better.
Any, used this stuff all around and then put Autoglym Deep Shine (or something like that) on top of it and I must say I'm really pleased with the results!
It looks a lot deeper, richer colour. Had to move the car due to rain, camera ran out of batteries at the end and lighting wasnt great...



As this only took a few hours I decided to tidy up the side vents and spay front V and rear badge black.

[ChrisS1]

and then a much deserved


Bored now.
I'm sure it'll be dirty by the end of the week and I'll wonder why I bothered!

[Nelly Vx]

Cheapskate job or not your Vx looks great Even better to see you bought the right colour red in the first place Only thing I'm not sure of is the front badge, either remove it or put it back to standard

[ChrisS1]

Cheapskate job or not your Vx looks great Even better to see you bought the right colour red in the first place Only thing I'm not sure of is the front badge, either remove it or put it back to standard

Cheers.
I wasnt sure on the front badge either but I have sprayed the rear badge black so thought it would be odd with a silver front and black rear badge.
Will have a think....wont be hard to remove the paint as it was a ten minute rattle can job with no prep underneath!! haha

[fred666]

Thats identical to my na! I paintedthe side grills etc and even the v just like you have lol Nice results. Sort that mesh out though above the exhaust. I put upthis topic for a quick fix for this yesterday http://www.vx220.org...20#entry1135610

[Nelly Vx]

Did you use satin black ?

Edited by vx220nelly, 26 January 2011 - 09:34 PM.

[ChrisS1]

Yep, satin black hammerite. It's not quite dry in those photos - despite liberal use of a heat gun to try and make it dry quicker

[2.2_na]

Only thing I'm not sure of is the front badge, either remove it or put it back to standard

I wouldn't have sprayed the Griffin itself.

Your VX looks great though, nice before and after pics.

[ChrisS1]

Thats identical to my na! I paintedthe side grills etc and even the v just like you have lol

Nice results. Sort that mesh out though above the exhaust. I put upthis topic for a quick fix for this yesterday

http://www.vx220.org...20#entry1135610

Cheers for the link fred.
Will see if I can find a bit of pipe in the garage

[Ben NA]

Looks great mate! The paint doesn't look absolutely shocking from the pics. A few bubbles and stone chips but nothing that can be spotted from a few feet away! Nice grounds btw.

[ChrisS1]

Looks great mate! The paint doesn't look absolutely shocking from the pics. A few bubbles and stone chips but nothing that can be spotted from a few feet away! Nice grounds btw.

Heh, I've some close up pics of the bad areas but havent posted them
The purpose was to get it looking ok from a distance which I think I've achieved

[JG]

the insides of the wheels! other than that

[ChrisS1]

Since I've got Photobucket open here's a pic of my last Elise

[ChrisS1]

the insides of the wheels!

other than that

I've got some satin black TDs winging their way to me in the post - hence the quick job on the wheels

[JG]

[ChrisS1]

Here's the difference of using the paint restorer (or whatever it was called)

[slindborg]

Tart, that wasnt dirty to begin with!